ISLAMABAD: Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) President Abdul Aleem Khan on Saturday expressed support for the creation of Hazara province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying people across the country wanted new provinces to be created on administrative grounds.

He said calls for the creation of Hazara province had been raised in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly since 2010, adding that it was encouraging that major political parties supported its establishment.

In his statement, Khan said the IPP stood firmly behind the demand for Hazara province to help resolve people’s problems.

He said the creation of South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces was also important and that the IPP would extend its full support to the demands.

Khan said calls were also being made for the creation of new provinces in Punjab and Sindh, as the rapid increase in population had made the creation of additional provinces an urgent need.

“The creation of new provinces can help resolve public issues and improve administrative efficiency,” he added.

He stressed that this was a national issue and that the creation of new provinces should not be sacrificed to political expediency or partisan interests. He said there would be “no harm in dividing each of the four provinces into four or more administrative units”.

The IPP chief added that the present circumstances demanded a new working order across the country and that the country must move forward in accordance with the requirements of the modern era, keeping the current situation in view.

Khan further said that the IPP would continue to raise its voice for the creation of new provinces at every forum.

He said politicians should fulfil their responsibilities and take ownership of the issue of new provinces, stressing that instead of protecting political fiefdoms, politicians must focus on resolving the problems faced by the people.

Khan added that the creation of new provinces was not an issue concerning any particular political party or region, but a matter of public convenience, better governance and the national interest. He urged that the issue be considered seriously, rising above political affiliations.

Recently, while addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged all political parties to resolve key national issues, including the creation of new provinces, describing it as the only solution to improving the country’s overall condition, which he said had “collapsed”.

The issue gained momentum after the minister’s proposal drew strong reactions from government ministers, while the country’s leading lawyers’ bodies adopted divergent positions. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) backed the proposal, whereas the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) stressed that any such move must be pursued strictly within the constitutional framework, through parliament and with national consensus.